Dynamic Interface Modelling and Simulation. Part 2: Developing Robust Fidelity Requirements for Maritime Rotorcraft Flight Simulators

Launch and recovery operations of helicopters to and from ships are often carried out in challenging at-sea conditions, such as a confined landing deck, irregular ship motion, sea spray and unsteady airflows over and around the ship’s superstructure. Together, these elements form the Helicopter Ship Dynamic Interface (HSDI) environment, posing a high risk to the helicopter, ship and crew [1]. To determine the safe operability of helicopter to ships, a safety envelope known as Ship Helicopter Operating Limit (SHOL) is constructed, normally through First of Class Flight Trials (FOCFTs). This process can be time-consuming and expensive and new approaches to determine SHOLS are being developed.